Distribution and genesis of the anomalously high porosity zones in the middle-shallow horizons of the northern Songliao Basin

High-quality reservoirs occur in the middle-shallow horizons of the northern Songliao Basin. The distribution and genesis of their anomalously high porosity zones were studied using measured porosities, examination of ordinary thin sections and blue epoxy resin-impregnated thin sections and by SEM. The results show that there are three anomalously high porosity zones at the depth of 450-900 m, 1,300-1,900 m, 2,050-2,350 m respectively, named zone i, zone ii and zone iii from top to bottom. Horizontally, zone i and zone ii are distributed all over the basin except in the Southeastern Uplift, while zone iii is only distributed in the Central Depression. Zone i was formed by meteoric water leaching as well as organic acid dissolution. Zones ii and iii were dominantly formed by organic acid dissolution. Additionally, clay mineral transformation generating H＋ and hydrocarbon emplacement retarding the cementation of sandstones are also important for the formation of zones ii and iii.

Characteristics and origin of abnormally high porosity zones in buried Paleogene clastic reservoirs in the Shengtuo area, Dongying Sag, East China

There are three abnormally high porosity zones developed in buried Paleogene nearshore subaqueous fan and sublacustrine fan clastic＇reservoirs at 2,800-3,200 m, 3,250-3,700 m and 3,900- 4,400 m, respectively, within the Shengtuo area of the Dongying Sag. Here the porosity of reservoirs buried deeper than 4,000 m can still be greater than 20%. Investigation of these three abnormally high porosity （AHP） zones in the 3rd to 4th member of the Paleogene Shahejie Formation in the Shengtuo area was carried out with utilization of core observation, thin section identification, SEM observation, image analysis, core physical property testing and other technical methods. The results show that, the AHP zones in 2,800-3,200 m and 3,250-3,700 m are visible pores primary AHP zones dominated by significant primary intergranular pores （more than 50% of the total porosity）, while secondary pores and micropores in authigenic clays may develop in some reservoirs. AHP reservoirs in the AHP zone of 3,900-4,400 m are dominated by micropores in matrix, visible pores are mainly grain dissolution pores but with low absolute content （〈 1%）, so this zone belongs to the micropores primary AHP zone. The genesis of the three AHP zones was studied to distinguish between porosity enhancement and porosity preservation. Our research shows that, in deeply buried clastic reservoirs in the Shengtuo area, mineral dissolution occurred in a relatively closed diagenetic system with high temperature and high salinity. Reservoir rocks underwent extensive feldspar dissolution, while detrital carbonate grains and carbonate cements show no evidence of extensive dissolution. Although significant feldspar dissolution pores developed, feldspar dissolution enhanced porosity only a little due to the precipitation of almost isovolumetric dissolution products in the nearby primary intergranular pores in forms of authigenic clays and quartz cements. Net enhanced porosity originating from feldspar dissolution is generally less than 0.25%. Thus, the subsurface dissolution has little impact on the mid-deep buried high porosity reservoirs. Reservoirs in braided channels of middle fans in sublacustrine fans and reservoirs in the middle-front of fan bodies of nearshore subaqueous fans provide the basis for the development of AHP zones. The shallow development of fluid overpressure and early hydrocarbon emplacement have effectively retarded compaction and carbonate cementation, so that the high porosity in the superficial layers is preserved in the mid-deep layers. These are the main controlling factors in the development of AHP zones.